Darrell goes for a ride on his newly restored K-80.	Mom is not so lucky.

From the inbox:
“Hey there, not really sure who is getting this, may have added a few by mistake. Here is the latest restortion projects. The Polaris is a 1964 K-80. runs great. Has a John Deere garden tractor motor so it has electric start and an alternator for lights. Needs a little work for finalization, wiring etc, the tag a long sled, was repainted earlier this year. That is ma in the sled, she is such a good sport, .

PS both the sled and Ma made the trip to billy’s bar for a victory beer. ”

Thanks Darrell – and I hope Ma’s tailbone survived the ride!

Featured in the new video by “The Darkness” – SLEDS!

12/08/2005

Is there anything that goes together better? There was a time when nothing tripped my trigger like a well done rock song, except maybe riding my 73 Starfire.

I used to love it when I came home and no one was home. I would literally crank my older brothers fancy new stereo up to the point that my ears would bleed. Note to brother Doc Jim: I can now confess it was likely me, or Van Halen that blew up your speakers. Actually I think I recall that it was the last tremelo sweep from Eddie Van Halen’s “Eruption” that made smoke come out of the right speaker. Of course I blamed my other brother. That’s what brothers do.

Anyway, I liked listening to that stereo really loud. At those volumes, it just worked best to play some nasty, guitar heavy arena rock. AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Nazareth, Sweet, Queen and the like.

What I loved the most about it was that at those volumes (when no one was looking) I just had to run around the house and jump off all the furniture and the walls. I’m quite sure that had anyone caught me, I would have been committed on the spot, or my parents would have thought an exorcism was in order.

I’ve found only three bands that can get my blood boiling like that again. Jellyfish, Rammstein (just one of their albums) and now… “The Darkness“. The vocals of Queen, the guitars of AC/DC, and the senseless, good for nothing but a good time lyrics of David lee Roth. This band is just plain good ‘ol “I wanna smash something” fun. In fact I’m listening to their new album as I write this, and I can’t get the grin off my face.

But their new video for the album “One Way Ticket to Hell… And back” sealed the deal. It features the band members riding sleds. Okay, I know they aren’t vintage, but hey – they are sleds, and they actually made this the first interesting music video I’ve seen since, uh, forever.

I didn’t find a link directly to the video anywhere, but you can see it on Apple iTunes, if you have iTunes or an iPod.

One of the early Beausejour winners. Photo courtesy of the CPTC Archive.

We got snow from North Dakota into Wisconsin and all points between! It’s a lovely thing. I’m starting to really enjoy listening to the non-sledding mortal people whine, complain and get depressed over the snow. Somehow it enhances my enjoyment of it. I know it’s probably not good to take joy in others suffering, but I don’t think they are really suffering. They just haven’t found the joy of trying to get your sled started at 30 below yet.

Speaking of getting your sled going, check out the forum on “You might be a sled neck if…” in the Bull Sessions. You guys are some funny, funny people. One of my favorites (because I’ve done it too many times!) “If you have ever advertised on the internet for a rare sled part and then found one in your own basement, you might be a sledneck.” from JLOpower.